taken from the book "Progressive Men of Idaho" page 318 by A. W. Bowen & Co. 1904

The name of Morgan has ever been an historic one in American affairs, and during the opening years of the Twentieth Century the name of J. Pierpont Morgan is universally recognized as the leading financial mind of the civilized world, and it is perhaps today oftener on the lips of the public than any other name. It is of Welsh extraction, but is now common in England, Ireland, Canada, and in the United States, as well as in Wales. John and Ann (Gillett) Morgan, the parents of the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this article, were, however, natives of England, and emigrated from England in their early married life, joining the Mormon colony in Illinois, later removing to Missouri, and thereafter in 1853 accompanying one of the ox-team brigades that for a series of years transported so many of the disciples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to the promised land. Making their home for four years in Salt Lake City, the father there wrought at his trade as a mason. Continuing his residence in that pleasant locality, the permanent family home was established at Mill Creek, where the father carries on farming, being hale and hearty at the age of seventy-four years, the mother having attained the age of sixty-nine years. In the community this venerable couple are highly esteemed for their uniform life of industry, probity and excellent religious character.

Joshua Brigham Morgan was born on 9 December 1862 at Mill Creek, Utah, and, after passing his early life in the assistance of his parents on the homestead, upon attaining manhood in 1883, he came to his present location at La Belle as a pioneer, before irrigating canals were built, before any well formed settlement had obtruded itself upon the wide expanse of sagebrush growth that extended almost unbroken for many miles, and his first act was to secure a homestead, the next being to bring it into a productive state through the introduction of water, and by clearing and fencing the fields. Selling twenty acres of his land he is now the owner of a fertile ranch of 100 acres, which is not only a productive farm, but the center of stockraising operations of importance. In irrigation he has been especially active, assisting in the construction and maintenance of the La Belle Canal, being the president of the company for some years, while in 1898 he "took out" a private canal. A Democrat in politics, he has never aspired to office, but in the Mormon Church, with which he has affiliated from childhood he was ordained in succession a deacon and an elder.

The marriage of Mr. Morgan and Miss Lucy Jane Taylor was consummated on 15 Dec. 1886, her parents being George and Lucy (Hughes) Taylor, natives of England, who were among the early Mormon arrivals in the Salt Lake region, making their way across the plains with slow ox teams and being months on the journey. They settled at Mill Creek, Utah, where for the long period of forty years the father conducted blacksmithing, then retiring to become a farmer. Mrs. Morgan has been prominently connected with the activities of the church, and has held, with great benefit to all corncerned, the offices of president of the Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Association, counsellor in the Primary Association and a member of the Relief Corps, being also an efficient teacher.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Morgan are Eugene, born on 25 March 1888; George E., born on 15 March 1890, died when one year old; Lucy L., born on 12 Oct. 1891; Elva May born on 7 August 1893; Minnie M., born on 8 November, 1895; Elwin T., born on 8 August, 1897; Alice A., born on 23 June 1899 (died 7 Oct. 1899); Edith P., born on 29 November 1901.

August 11, 1999: Transcribed from a copy of a handwritten document of unknown origin by Matt Young.